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4.9 from 72 votes

Ginger Tea Recipe (Indian Adrak Chai)

This Indian Ginger Tea recipe or Adrak Chai is a warming, spiced and fragrant hot beverage made with black tea, fresh ginger roots, crushed cardamom, sugar and milk (optional).

Prep Time
1 min
Cook Time
1 min
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 49 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 3 to 4 teaspoon black tea powder or leaves
  • 2 inch ginger for a strong taste or 1 inch ginger for a milder taste, peeled and either crushed or grated.
  • 3 to 4 green cardamoms crushed or powdered in a mortar-pestle (optional)
  • ¼ to ½ cup milk or cashew milk or soy milk - add more if you want a milky tea
  • 8 teaspoon raw sugar or unrefined organic cane sugar, add more for more sweetness

Instructions

Preparation
    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse, peel and crush the ginger roots in a mortar pestle. You can also grate them if you want.
  2. Crush or powder 3 to 4 green cardamoms in a mortar-pestle.
Making ginger tea
  1. In a saucepan or kettle, add 4 cups of water, 2 inch ginger grated and the crushed green cardamoms with their peels.
  2. Boil this water-ginger-cardamom mixture for a good 4 to 5 minutes, till the color of the water changes to a mild yellowish hue. The ginger releases its juices and flavors in the water and thus the color of the water changes.
  3. Add 8 teaspoon sugar or as desired. Simmer for a more of 1 to 2 minutes.
  4. Now add 3 to 4 teaspoon of tea powder and simmer for about 1 to 2 minutes till the water gets a deep hue of red. To make your tea stronger simmer for about 3 minutes or as desired.
  5. Simmering makes the tea strong. If you prefer a light version, then just add the tea leaves to the water. Switch off the heat. Cover and allow the tea leaves to steep in the hot spiced water for 3 to 4 minutes.
  6. Add ¼ to ½ cup of milk.
  7. Simmer for a minute or two.
  8. Strain the tea through a strainer right into the cups.
  9. Serve the hot ginger tea with indian snacks like pakoras, cutlet or samosas. You could also serve the tea with biscuits or cookies.

Notes

  • Use fresh and tender ginger. You can also use ginger powder. But add in small amounts as it is very heaty. In this recipe you can add about ¼ teaspoon ginger powder.
  • You can use either tea dust powder or tea leaves. Assam tea powder or leaves will make for a stronger tea. Darjeeling tea powder or leaves will give a mild tasting tea.
  • The addition of milk is optional. Feel free to skip or alter the quantity of the milk.
  • You can also use plant based milk to make vegan ginger tea. If you are using cashew milk or almond milk or oats milk, then heat them separately in another pan until hot but not boiling. Mix the hot plant based milk with the tea concoction. Switch off the heat. Boiling further may cause the cashew or almond milk to become slimy and separate.
  • If it does not suit you omit the sugar or reduce the quantity.
  • This recipe can be easily scaled.

Nutrition Information

Calories 49kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 2mg (1%) Sodium 19mg (1%) Potassium 55mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 25IU (1%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg Vitamin B6 1mg Vitamin B12 1µg Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Vitamin D 1µg Vitamin E 1mg Vitamin K 1µg Calcium 32mg (3%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 1µg Iron 1mg (6%) Magnesium 9mg Phosphorus 17mg Zinc 1mg

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 49

% Daily Value*

Calories 49kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 19mg 1%
Potassium 55mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 25IU 1%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg
Vitamin B6 1mg
Vitamin B12 1µg 42%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Vitamin D 1µg 5%
Vitamin E 1mg
Vitamin K 1µg
Calcium 32mg 3%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 1µg
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 9mg 2%
Phosphorus 17mg
Zinc 1mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.